Position Paper

Final Paper
Position Paper

The purpose of this assignment is to critically reflect on a current social issue in sport that is meaningful to you and to formulate a position on that topic. This paper will be more like a political science position paper rather than a traditional sociological study.

While writing the paper think of yourself preparing for an honest evidence-based debate. Your goal is to carefully examine a topic, address all sides of the issue, and create a candid, rational, and persuasive argument, while acknowledging a counter argument. It is imperative that you support your argument with evidence and do not simply cherry-pick convenient truths while ignoring information that may harm your argument.

1. Title Page
   1. Name, class, title of paper, etc. (all the normal stuff you usually include on title pages)
      1. Note: Try to make this like the first page of a journal article.
   2. Abstract 150-word summary of your paper.
      1. Note: Write the abstract last.
   3. Introduction
      1. Introduce the topic
      2. Provide background information on the topic.
      3. Explain why the topic is important.
      4. Explain your position on the topic (i.e. assert your thesis).

• Counter Argument
  1. Summarize the counterclaims
  2. Explain why these claims are inaccurate
  3. Explain who benefits from the various counterclaims or what the consequences may be.

1. Your Argument
   1. Re-assert your argument theoretically and provide supporting evidence
   2. Note: Please have at least 5 supporting points, which include your educated/informed opinion and evidence to support this opinion/claim.
2. Conclusion
   1. Restate your argument
   2. Create policy recommendations.
3. Reference Page
   1. ASA citation format (Please stop by the library if you have not cited in ASA format before. If the library doesn’t clear things up E-mail me and I can take you through it.
   2. You must use at least four peer-reviewed journal articles and two non-academic articles.

*The paper will be 12 double spaced pages and will be done with a partner of your choosing (Note: we will choose partners after we post our paper topics on the discussion board).

Suggestions on how to structure your paper:

1. Use headings and sub-headings to separate your paper. Without headings 8-10-page papers are not readable. Think of our book chapter or any of the journal articles that you have to read, if they did not have headings and subheadings they would be impossible to follow.

1. Share the workload.You can prepare for your paper anyway you like; however, I would strongly suggest that you meet with your partner and discuss your paper in-person (coffee shop, library, any safe public location). Discuss all of the articles that you have read that relate to the topic, relate them back to the book, think about what theories the articles use, and why the articles are important. Look for commonalities and differences. As a team help each other decide what the author is trying to say and what information isneeded to support the author’s thesis.
   1. You are a team, work as one. If one member refuses to do his/her share of the work, I will remove the individual from the group and he/she will not be pleased with the consequences. There will be no free-riders.
   2. It is your responsibility to work together.

1. Pay attention to grammar… I not will going to Atakk u on grammer but: some-things R-NT acceptable. Remember you are not writing a text message, a DM, or sending an E-mail.
   1. Ideally, as a group, you should take the paper over to The Writing Center at least four days before turning it in (I’m 99% certain this can be done electronically).
   2. On the discussion board we all make mistakes (myself included), however, your final paper needs to be thoroughly checked.

1. Do not lose easy points on the reference/citing.

1. Finally, do not cheat, I will be looking for plagiarism!
   1. If you get caught cheating, I will petition the university for the most severe penalty possible.

1. I have caught at least one student cheating every single semester for the past 13 years. Do not be that student! It really isn’t worth it.